Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

His Imperial Majesty Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (in Persian: ??????? ??? ?????) (October 26 1919 – July 27, 1980), was the last reigning Shah of Iran to date, ruling from 1941 until 1979. He is also known by the deferential title Aryamehr (meaning "Light of the Aryans").

Youth, Education, and Family Background

Mohammad Reza was born in Tehran, Iran to Reza Pahlavi, the Shah between 1925 and 1941, and his second wife Tadj ol-Molouk (1896 – 1982). Young Mohammad Reza attended Institute Le Rosey, a Swiss boarding school and the Military College in Tehran.

Related Topics:
Tehran - Iran - Reza Pahlavi - 1925 - 1941 - Tadj ol-Molouk - 1896 - 1982 - Institute Le Rosey - Swiss - Boarding school

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His father, Reza Pahlavi, (1877–1944), had risen from the army ranks to defense minister(after a coup d'état which made Seyyed Zia'eddin Tabatabaee prime minister), and afterwards to prime minister, before being elected Shah by the National Assembly, (the Majlis), so starting the Pahlavi dynasty.

Related Topics:
Reza Pahlavi - 1877 - 1944 - Coup d'état - Seyyed Zia'eddin Tabatabaee - Majlis - Pahlavi dynasty

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Prior to Reza Pahlavi's ascension, the Empire of Persia had been feeling the gradual encroachment of two expanding empires: Russia and Great Britain. In the nineteenth century, Russia had annexed the northern part of Persia, which came to be known as Tajikistan. Meanwhile, Britain began to exercise increasing influence over the south of the country through its control of India, a traditional trading partner; and domination of the Persian oil industry. British foreign policy emphasized adroit diplomacy backed by military might to ensure the favorable treatment of British interests in the country. Britain imposed humiliating restrictions on Persian sovereignity. Reza Pahlavi sought to decrease this influence by reaching out to other European powers such as Italy and Germany. Ironically, instead of decreasing British and Russian influence, this policy only provided new impetus for continued interference in Iranian (Persia's name was officially changed to the domestic name Iran in 1935) affairs, and resulted in the Shah's fall during World War II.

Related Topics:
Russia - Great Britain - Tajikistan - India - Italy - Germany - World War II

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